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Tom Phillips - Outside Skills and Speed

Simon Port
Simon Port
in Melbourne Demons

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@dazzledavey36 here is the small part of the article you're after. I hope this is okay @Demonland as it isn't the whole article.

 

DEES LOOK INTERNALLY AFTER MISSING OUT ON ISAAC

Melbourne speedster Oskar Baker looks set to be given the chance to step up on the Demons’ vacant wing next season.

The Demons were keen on Hawthorn premiership midfielder Isaac Smith but the Hawk’s decision to land at Geelong means Baker will be first in line to cement a wing position.

The Demons have Ed Langdon on one wing and plan to play Adam Tomlinson in defence next year.

Baker, 22, has top speed and has played 12 games in the past two years including only three last season.

The Demons are excited by his capacity to help add some speed and polish on the wing but the 184cm running machine will have a big pre-season ahead of him.

The Demons also spoke about North Melbourne’s Jared Polec but the midfielder’s giant salary at the Kangaroos is a hurdle to any move – unless North paid a chunk of his wage.

Harley Bennell was also given the opportunity on the wing but blew a contract extension when he broke COVID-19 protocols and then refused to return to Melbourne’s hub.

Mitch Hannan will depart the Demons for the Bulldogs

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    Reading that, it seems we won't be in the running for Phillips.

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    2 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

    Reading that, it seems we won't be in the running for Phillips.

    Sounds like it, but you never say never. Plenty still to play out. 

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    6 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

    Sounds like it, but you never say never. Plenty still to play out. 

    Shout out to Sean Connery, Never Say Never Again. 

    I really hope we aren’t pinning out hopes on Baker though. That’s not to say I don’t like him but I really would like us to push for Phillips. 

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    19 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

    Reading that, it seems we won't be in the running for Phillips.

    We must be after other players than just BB, as there is no way with the players rumoured as leaving, we will look to replace them all with late draft picked youngsters. I think we will trade in a minimum of 3-4 players. 

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    23 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

    Reading that, it seems we won't be in the running for Phillips.

    Don’t think that article rules out Phillips or any other outside mid.

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    27 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

    @dazzledavey36 here is the small part of the article you're after. I hope this is okay @Demonland as it isn't the whole article.

     

    DEES LOOK INTERNALLY AFTER MISSING OUT ON ISAAC

    Melbourne speedster Oskar Baker looks set to be given the chance to step up on the Demons’ vacant wing next season.

    The Demons were keen on Hawthorn premiership midfielder Isaac Smith but the Hawk’s decision to land at Geelong means Baker will be first in line to cement a wing position.

    The Demons have Ed Langdon on one wing and plan to play Adam Tomlinson in defence next year.

    Baker, 22, has top speed and has played 12 games in the past two years including only three last season.

    The Demons are excited by his capacity to help add some speed and polish on the wing but the 184cm running machine will have a big pre-season ahead of him.

    The Demons also spoke about North Melbourne’s Jared Polec but the midfielder’s giant salary at the Kangaroos is a hurdle to any move – unless North paid a chunk of his wage.

    Harley Bennell was also given the opportunity on the wing but blew a contract extension when he broke COVID-19 protocols and then refused to return to Melbourne’s hub.

    Mitch Hannan will depart the Demons for the Bulldogs

    Ffs If true this doesn’t give me any confidence what so ever. I already have zero confidence in goody and this makes it worse. 

    Hopefully this is not true and a bit of a smokescreen to not show our hand in public. 

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    9 minutes ago, DemonOX said:

    Ffs If true this doesn’t give me any confidence what so ever. I already have zero confidence in goody and this makes it worse. 

    Hopefully this is not true and a bit of a smokescreen to not show our hand in public. 

    Yep I think it’s spin.

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    5 minutes ago, reynolds46 said:

    Typically no ‘Plan B”

    How do you know that? 

    While I have no problem with the club seeing a future for Baker on a wing, he isn't ready right now, and the article doesn't really use any quotes or concrete info. Just a bit of assumption really. 

    Still plenty to play out over these next few weeks. 

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    6 minutes ago, DemonOX said:

    Ffs If true this doesn’t give me any confidence what so ever. I already have zero confidence in goody and this makes it worse. 

    Hopefully this is not true and a bit of a smokescreen to not show our hand in public. 

    Bennell, Dunkley, Wagner x 2, Hannan, Preuss, Macs x 2, VDB and ANB? That is 10 players possibly gone, with maybe another 1-2 added. At this stage it looks like only BB is likely. Rest assured we won’t be going to a draft with 9 late picks. We clearly are involved in other trades and our new cone of silence might be annoying to news hungry fans, but it has been an improvement on the past, in terms of successfully getting players in.

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    I know that we at least have had a conversation with Phillips and that it included Trac who knows him from junior footy days. This was before we missed on Smith and before the heat increased in the media on Pies having to dump significant salary. I dont know how it went but even if it was promising I suggest at this point we may be more keen for Collingwood to show us how much they need to relieve themselves of  him or Treloar rather than us showing how desperate we are to bring in a second wing. 

    I think Baker has potential but if anyone thinks we will be sitting back and not trying to solve our outside run or bringing in more mature consistent role players at a suitable cost then they underrate how we work. You just need to look at how much mature depth we are trying to push out the door. 

    Edited by big_red_fire_engine

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    2 minutes ago, Redleg said:

    Bennell, Dunkley, Wagner x 2, Hannan, Preuss, Macs x 2, VDB and ANB? That is 10 players possibly gone, with maybe another 1-2 added. At this stage it looks like only BB is likely. Rest assured we won’t be going to a draft with 9 late picks. We clearly are involved in other trades and our new cone of silence might be annoying to news hungry fans, but it has been an improvement on the past, in terms of successfully getting players in.

    Hope u r right red. 

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    1 minute ago, DemonOX said:

    Hope u r right red. 

    You know I always am.

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    Can we just sign Lachie Hunter and be done with it? 

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    15 minutes ago, big_red_fire_engine said:

    I know that we at least have had a conversation with Phillips and that it included Trac who knows him from junior footy days. This was before we missed on Smith and before the heat increased in the media on Pies having to dump significant salary. I dont know how it went but even if it was promising I suggest at this point we may be more keen for Collingwood to show us how much they need to relieve themselves of  him or Treloar rather than us showing how desperate we are to bring in a second wing. 

    I think Baker has potential but if anyone thinks we will be sitting back and not trying to solve our outside run or bringing in more mature consistent role players at a suitable cost then they underrate how we work. You just need to look at how much mature depth we are trying to push out the door. 

    Interesting.

    They're only 4 months apart in age and both played junior footy at Beverley Hills Football Club.

    Good get, BRFE.

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    I hope the club isn’t getting carried away by a couple of nice goals by Baker in the GWS game. He didn’t play particularly well in the Freo and Essendon games.

    They need to chase a proven winger such as Polec or Phillips to be our starting winger next year and retain Baker as depth. 

    I agree that they should keep Tomlinson as a defender rather than winger next year as he was solid and reliable when he played down back.

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    On 10/30/2020 at 6:43 PM, Redleg said:

    On comparing the 2, while Phillips would be easier to get, Clark is a better kick and 4.5 years younger. If Tom Mac joins Preuss at GWS, we could get involved in the Cameron deal and maybe get Clark from the Cats. I think they were prepared to let him go home to WA, so on the way there he could play 10 years with us first. 
    I am not against getting Phillips, just would love to get Clark. 

    That may actually work out packaging up Tmac and Pruessy in a three way trade with GWS and Geelong.

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    Phillips was highly regarded by Longmuir in his time at Collingwood. Would not surprise if the Dockers were interested and why there hasn't been much dialogue.

     

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    3 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

    Reading that, it seems we won't be in the running for Phillips.

    Maybe Phillips doesnt want to come to us but if we are not having a big go at him then its another bad decision. St Kilda last year identified what they needed.. they went and got it.. I hope we are into him.

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    I would be staggered if the club aren’t looking at other options. Baker as plan B is no plan at all. 

    I don’t want to knock the kid too much. He has shown glimpses but nothing to suggest to me he can hold down the wing opposite Langdon. In the future maybe but not next season.

    Hopefully BRFE’s read is correct and this it just standard trade period smoke and mirrors. Let's wait and see.

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    Josh Daicos went from a fringe forward to a better player than Phillips last year. 

    There’s a lot of clubs without proven options on the wing who can train them up. 

    Apart from Baker we’ve got Harmes, Melksham, Hunt, Fritsch and even Jordon as internal candidates. Richmond took Marlion Pickett (A career half back/mid) and made him a very good wingman in 1 season. With the right coaching it can be done.

    Personally I’d stop spending useful draft picks and hefty contracts on players who can’t kick. You get short term improvement but lose long term. 

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    I think we need speed and class.

    Not really sure Phillips is that player.

     

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    1 minute ago, Unleash Hell said:

    I think we need speed and class.

    Not really sure Phillips is that player.

     

    I agree but if you get him for a nothing pick (since it'd be a cap dump by the Pies), you'd have to take him. Would still walk into our 22.

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